GETTING HIS KICKS: Princeton High football player Carmine Carusone boots the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Friday night, junior star running back/defensive back Carusone kicked an 18-yard field goal in the waning seconds of regulation to provide the margin of victory as PHS defeated previously undefeated Holy Cross Prep 3-0. The Tigers, now 3-3, play at Nottingham on October 12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In getting off to a 1-3 start this fall, the Princeton High football team was hampered by some injuries to key players.

But getting back to nearly full strength as it hosted Robbinsville on September 28, PHS gave a glimpse of its potential. Jumping out to a 34-0 halftime lead over the Ravens, the Tigers cruised to a 41-6 triumph.

“It was really great to see, I think it was the first time that we were almost healthy which was really great,” said PHS head coach Charlie Gallagher. “I guess that is what a healthy Princeton High team has the capabilities of doing. We had a mindset early in the season, we had good thoughts. As guys go down early in the season, we try to overcome but you need the players in the race. We would love to take all kinds of credit for it but we can’t because it is really the guys out there that are doing it.”

Last Friday night, PHS realized that it had a lot to overcome as it played at undefeated Holy Cross Prep.

“They are a good team, any team that is 5-0 you have to be ready for,” said Gallagher. “Some people might say it is the caliber of program that they are playing. They were a good team last year and we were blessed to win that game pretty handily (29-0). They were a very young team last year. I think they only had two seniors so we knew that there was a lot of experience coming back so we knew we had our work cut out for us.”

Producing some great work on defense, the Tigers pulled out a 3-0 win over the Lancers as junior star Carmine Carusone kicked an 18-yard field goal in the waning seconds of regulation to provide the margin of victory.

Although PHS sputtered at times against Holy Cross, the Tigers kept plugging away.

“We didn’t put it all together until that last drive,” said Gallagher. “We had some moments but we couldn’t sustain drives. We persevered. I am really happy for the kids.”

Showing perseverance, the PHS defense stopped the Lancers at the goal line in the fourth quarter.

“We had a big defensive stand inside the 5-yard line, it was amazing,” said Gallagher. “They had third and goal inside the two and we were able to hold them there at the one or two-yard line. Then they went for it in fourth down and the quarterback fumbled the snap a little bit. We were putting everybody up on the line of scrimmage and I think he got a little nervous. We were all coming.”

The PHS offense came alive after that with a dramatic last-minute drive.

“We got the ball on our 47-yard line we had 44 seconds left with no timeouts left and we are 53 yards away from scoring,” said Gallagher.

“The we got two nice passes. Travis [Petrone] steps up and hits Ellington [Hinds] on a crossing route. I think he picked up about 15. The next thing he hit him on a deep out for another 17 yards. We had two plays that got out of bounds and we only used up 12 seconds on the clock.”

A run by Carusone got the ball to the three-yard line and then a delay of game penalty on Holy Cross gave the Tigers the ball at the one to set up a fantastic finish.

“We still have 12 or 13 seconds to go, it’s first down, clock is not moving and I am like we are going for the field goal,” recalled Gallagher. “The ball gets snapped over Travis’ head and Carmine catches. He throws it to Travis and they ruled it incomplete pass. So now there are 2.6 seconds left and we get another shot. Zach Nelson makes a great snap, Travis has a great hold, and Carmine kicks it straight through.”

The clutch kick culminated a super all-around effort by the multi-talented Carusone who rushed for 70 yards on 10 carries, made three catches for 40 yards, and starred at defensive back.

“They had a big wide receiver that is a pretty good player and Carmine literally shut him down,” said Gallagher. “He played the same kid last year and shut him down. Carmine is like 5’8 and this kid is 6’3. Carmine also ran for 70 yards and kicked the winning field goal.”

Star linebackers Elisio Moncada and Joe George led the Tiger defensive charge, making nine and 10 tackles, respectively. In addition, junior Zyair Mackey-Wright and senior Sean Wilton anchored the d-line while Petrone, Carusone, and junior Anderson Potter starred in the secondary.

“Those guys are sideline to sideline,” said Gallagher of Moncada and George. “I think they had about 80 yards worth of rushing and we had been going up some rushing yards. They are real stoked. Coach [Brandon] Williams is doing a great job with them.”

Gallagher was stoked by the character displayed by his players as they pulled out the nail-biter.

“You don’t give up, there were some moments where we had some opportunities and it didn’t work out,” said Gallagher, who got 112 yards passing and 18 yards rushing from quarterback Petrone against Holy Cross Prep with star receiver Hinds making three catches for 44 yards and rushing for 15 yards. “You just have to keep believing in yourself and keep believing we are going to make this. We know we have the players. They all know that it is a good football team with a lot of good skill guys and some really great linemen.”

With the Tigers playing at Nottingham on October 12, Gallagher is hoping that his squad can keep up its good run as it faces a Northstars team that is dangerous despite its 1-5 record.

“We lost to Hamilton West (13-6 on September 21) and they beat them 27-0; they have some good skill guys, they have some big dudes up front,” said Gallagher. “I think their quarterback threw for two touchdowns in their win, he had a great game. It is high alert. We are 0-0 and they are 0-0, throw the records out the door. We have our work cut out for us but we feel confident. It all has to come together during the week. We have to be able to execute on the weekend and play some really good Tiger football.”